At times during Flint Community Schools’ 2024 graduation ceremony Tuesday night, the Whiting Auditorium sounded more like a football stadium.

Superintendent Kevelin Jones described the event like the Super Bowl: “This is better.” “If you have a graduate who scored a touchdown and graduated today, go berserk,” Jones said.

Hundreds of families and friends of graduates roared in celebration multiple times before the conferring of the diplomas. Flint Community Schools held its graduation ceremony for Southwestern Classical Academy and Accelerated Learning Academy students at the Whiting Auditorium on June 4.

This year’s class featured 122 graduates, a significant increase from the 77 graduates in 2023 and 83 graduates in 2022. In 2021, there were less than 50 graduates.

Flint Board of Education President Joyce Ellis-McNeal charged graduates to prove to the world who Flint kids are and remain in the community to help it grow. “To get where we’re at now, it took a very strong spirit of resilience,” Ellis-McNeal said.

Micaiah Brown, who graduated with a 4.2 GPA as valedictorian, told his fellow students to live passionately regardless of your circumstances. “Don’t lose your superpower and you won’t lose focus,” Brown said.

Graduates were left with a simple message from Jones before diplomas were conferred. “From one Flint kid to another – go get it,” he said.

By: Dylan Goetz  |  MLive
Photos:  Julian Leshay Guadalupe  |  MLive